Timber Theft & Trespass in Ohio

James S. Savage, Esq.Mark E. Rickey, ODNR Division of Forestry

(with thanks to Carl Vance, ODNR Parks and Watercraft)

Theft Suspect Pike County

A Real Logger

How are they removing and transporting these logs?

Truck of any size

Trailer of any size

Chains

Winches

Tow Straps

Chainsaws

David Baker – Scioto County Robert Silcott – Ross County

Stolen from Highland County

This vehicle was observed in Minford, OH.

Robert Silcott – Ross County

What Drives Timber Thefts – MONEY!

Crime of Opportunity

Enabled by Sawmill paying cash

Easy Target

Log Sheet for These Logs

Timber Theft Discovery

Most Obvious - Stumps

Drag marks on roads

Hung trees/tree tops

Chain Drag Marks Chain Burnt Into Log

Drag Marks Tree Tops

2017-2019 Timber Thieves Charles David Groves – Scioto - Convicted

Tina Groves – Scioto - Convicted

Daniel Groves – Scioto – Convicted, Serving 47 years Charged with first degree murder of his child

Has $30k indictment on timber theft

David Baker – Scioto – Convicted

John Knauff – Ross/Highland - Convicted

Robert Silcott – Ross/Vinton/Pike – Convicted, Serving 16 months

4 Subjects from Ross/Pike/Adams – Pending Case in Court

Task Force Help US Marshalls

Ohio State Patrol

OSP Special Response Team

OSP Aviation

OSP K-9

Scioto County Sheriff’s Office

Scioto County Adult Parole

Scioto County Prosecutor’s Office

Portsmouth Police Department

Adams County Sheriff’s Office

Pike County Sheriff’s Office

Waverly Police Department

National Park Service

Ross County Sheriff’s Office

Vinton County Sheriff’s Office

Highland County Sheriff’s Office

ODNR Division of Wildlife

ODNR Division of Forestry

ODNR Natural Resource K-9 Units

ODNR Natural Resource Officers

Problems in Prosecuting Tree Theft

Apathetic Law Enforcement

Multiple Jurisdictions

Criminal Penalties

Theft – misdemeanor unless value is above $1,000

OR

Victim is “elderly” (over 65)

Uncooperative Sawmills

Preventive Steps to Take as a Landowner, Citizen

Permanently mark your boundaries! Paint, etc.

Steps to Take

Frequent your property and boundary lines

Know your neighbors and be familiar with their land management activities

Steps to Take

Be aware of activities in your immediate area

Who is, or has been operating close by, etc.

Steps to Take

Keep “good people” around your place

Family, friends, hunters, your forester

SWCD, NRCS, DOW, etc.

Steps to Take

Get a Professional Forester to Inventory

Especially high value, and easy to reach trees

Should be by species, and volume (diameter & height of merchantable product)

Steps to Take

Get a Trail Camera

Thief Posing as Timber Buyer

“I've been caught stealing Once when I was 5 I enjoy stealing It's just as simple as that Well, it's just a simple fact When I want something, I don't want to pay for it I walk right through the door Walk right through the door Hey all right! If I get by, it's mine Mine all mine!” Lyrics from Been Caught Stealing by Jane’s Addiction.

Steps to Take

Insist on a Police Report

Steps to Take

Support expanding scrap dealer law to Sawmills

Expand Scrap Dealer Law to Sawmills

Must Keep Records of Each Sale Name, copy of ID

Details of each saw log

License plate number

Photo of Seller

Sawmills Are Already Keeping These Records

Expand Scrap Dealer Law to Sawmills

What it adds…

Must Make Records available to law enforcement And victim

And… It is Illegal to buy from “known thieves”

TIMBER TRESPASS

What’s The Difference?

Problems in Addressing Timber Trespass

Apathetic Law Enforcement (a “civil matter”)

Where is the property line?

Finger Pointing Between the Logger and Adjacent Landowner

Typical Timber Trespass Scenario

Civil Remedy

At least trespass and conversion (“slam dunk” claims)

Treble “Damages” if “Reckless” What is “reckless”

Purple Paint Law has been proposed

901.51 Injuring vines, bushes, trees, or crops on land of another.

No person, without privilege to do so, shall recklessly cut down, destroy girdle, or otherwise injure a vine, bush, shrub, sapling, tree, or crop standing or growing on the land of another or upon public land.

In addition to the penalty provided in section 901.99 of the Revised Code, whoever violates this section is liable in treble damages for the injury caused. (Emphasis added).

What ”Damages” are Recoverable?

(1) Value of Trees?

Before/after value of land (real estate agent)

OR Stumpage value (forester)

OR Replaced value - only if ornamental (landscape contractor)

(2) Restoration value of land (excavator)

What About the Finger Pointing Problem?

Partnership?

“Carry on business for a profit”

One partner liable for whatever other partner does

Joint venture – partnership for a specific purpose

One joint venture liable for whatever other joint venture does

If the Arrangement is a “Split” of Proceeds, the Adjacent Landowner and the Logger are Both Liable for Treble Damages

MOST IMPORTANT TAKEAWAY

Never enter into an arrangement with a logger in which you split the proceeds from the sale of

timber

The End! Thank you for your time and interest.